Welcome to the Prairie Seed Bank!
At Prairie Rivers of Iowa, we want to promote planting beneficial plants. You can come into our office at 3116 South Duff Ave, Suite 201 Ames IA 50010 to see our full collection and pick out seeds. A $5 donation per seed packet is suggested. You can also donate or exchange native seed from your garden! When donating seed, please have this information: Common name, scientific name, and location it was harvested from. Thank you!
Below is the majority of seed we have. Call ahead to check exact availability.
Native Forbs
Western Yarrow
Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis
Sun: Full to Partial | Soil: Moist, Dry | Height: 1-4 ft | Bloom: May-Jul | Year Harvested: 2021
This plant can be aggressive. This is a host plant for several species, including the blueberry looper, Spotted Buff Gem Moth, and the Calendula Plume Moth
Lead Plant
Amorpha canescens
Sun: Full to Partial | Soil: Dry | Height: 1-3 ft | Bloom: Jun-Aug | Year Harvested: 2024
This plant is an important food source for pollinators. Monarchs love to nectar on this purple plant. It is a host plant for the Hoary Edge Skipper, Io Moth, and the Genista Broom Moth.
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Sun: Full to Partial | Soil: Moist, Dry | Height: 2-3 ft | Bloom: Jun-Aug | Year Harvested: 2024
A wonderful plant that provides nectar to native pollinators. This is a host plant for Monarchs, Cecropia moths, and White Hairstreak Butterflies.
Canada Milkvetch
Astragalus canadensis
Sun: Full to Partial | Soil: Wet, Moist | Height: ½ ft | Bloom: May-Jul | Year Harvested: 2024
It supports native bees, bumble bees, beetles, wasps, flies, butterflies, hummingbirds, and moths. It is a host plant for Alexandra Sulphurs, Julia’s Dicymolomia Moths, and Wild Indigo Duskwings.
Cup Plant
Silphium perfoliatum
Sun: Full | Soil: Moist | Height: 3- 8 ft | Bloom: Jul-Sep | Year Harvested: 2024
This flower supports native pollinators. Monarchs love to drink the nectar, and the leaves collect water from rain, which wildlife use. This is a host plant for Bird Poop Moths, and the rare Silphium Borer Moth.
NOT AVAILABLE
Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
Sun: Full | Soil: Wet – Dry | Height: 2-5 ft | Bloom: Jul-Sep | Year Harvested: 2024
This plant supports native bees, bumble bees, beetles, wasps, flies, moths, and butterflies. Monarchs love sipping on the nectar from Liatris species. It is the host plant for the Blazing Star Borer.
Upright Coneflower
Ratibida columnifera
Sun: Full | Soil: Dry | Height: 1-3 ft | Bloom: May-Oct | Year Harvested: 2021
This plant supports native pollinators. It is the host plant for Sunflower Moths. It provides consistent resources for wildlife throughout the growing season.
Bee Balm
Monarda fistulosa
Sun: Full to Partial | Soil: Moist, Dry | Height: 2-4 ft | Bloom: Jun-Aug | Year Harvested: 2024
This plant supports native pollinators. It is the host plant for Raspberry Pyraustas, Blueberry Leafrollers, and Hermit Sphinx.
Roundheaded Bushclover
Lespedeza capitata
Sun: Full to Partial | Soil: Dry | Height: 2-3 ft | Bloom: Jun-Sep | Year Harvested: 2024
This plant supports our native polliantors. It is a host plant for Io Moths, Silver-spotted Skippers, and Northern Cloudywings.
Purple Prairie Clover
Dalea purpurea
Sun: Full | Soil: Dry | Height: 1-3 ft | Bloom: Jul-Aug | Year Harvested: 2024
This plant supports native bees, bumble bees, beetles, wasps, flies, and butterflies. It is a host plant for the Southern Dogface Butterfly.
Ohio Spiderwort
Tradescantia ohiensis
Sun: Full – Partial | Soil: Wet – Dry | Height: 1.5-2 ft | Bloom: Apr- Jun | Year Harvested: 2024
They support native bees, bumble bees, beetles, wasps, flies, and butterflies. It provides essential food resources in early spring, when resources are hard to find for pollinators.
Black Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Sun: Full to Partial | Soil: Moist, Dry | Height: 1.5-3.5 ft | Bloom: Jun-Aug | Year Harvested: 2024
it supports native bees, bumble bees, beetles, wasps, flies, moths, and butterflies. it’s a host plant for Gorgone Checkerspots, Silvery Checkerspots, and Wavy-lined Emerald Moths.
Hoary Vervain
Verbena stricta
Sun: Full | Soil: Dry | Height: 1-4 ft | Bloom: Jul-Sep | Year Harvested: 2024
This plant supports specialist bees Calliopsis nebraskensis, C. hirsutifrons and Verbena Moths, and Fine-Lined Sallow Moths.
Greyheaded Coneflower
Ratibida pinnata
Sun: Full | Soil: Moist, Dry | Height: 2-5 ft | Bloom: Jun-Aug | Year Harvested: 2024
This plant supports our native pollinators and wildlife. The seed heads smell like citrus.
NOT AVAILABLE
Meadow Blazing Star
Liatris Ligulistylis
Sun: Full | Soil: Wet – Dry | Height: 1-3 ft | Bloom: Jul-Sep | Year Harvested: 2024
This plant supports native bees, bumble bees, and butterflies. It is known to attract Monarch Butterflies and large amounts of native bees.
Wild White Indigo
Baptisia alba
Sun: Full | Soil: Moist – Dry | Height: 2.5-5 ft | Bloom: May- Jul | Year Harvested: 2024
This plant supports native bees, bumble bees, butterflies, and moths. It is a host plant for the Wild Indigo Duskwing Butterfly and the Indigo Stem Borer Moth.
Pale Purple Coneflower
Echinacea pallida
Sun: Full | Soil: Dry | Height: 2-3 ft | Bloom: Jun-Aug | Year Harvested: 2024
Long-Horned Bees, Leafcutter Bees, and the Brown-Belted Bumble Bee all love this native wildflower!
NOT AVAILABLE
Partridge Pea
Chamaecrista fasciculata
Sun: Full to Partial | Soil: Moist, Dry | Height: 1-3 ft | Bloom: Jul- Sep | Year Harvested: 2024
This plant supports native bees, bumble bees, beetles, wasps, flies, butterflies, and moths. It is a host plant for Rusty Banded Adelphia Moths, Io Moth, and Little Sulphur Butterflies.
Showy Ticktrefoil
Desmodium canadense
Sun: Full to Partial | Soil: Moist, Dry | Height: 3-6 ft | Bloom: Jul-Aug | Year Harvested: 2024
This plant supports native bees, bumble bees, wasps, flies, and butterflies. It is a host plant for Hoary Edge Skipper, Eastern Tailed Blue, and Northern Cloudywing.
Tall Coreopsis
Coreopsis tripteris
Sun: Full to Partial | Soil: Wet- Dry | Height: 3-9 ft | Bloom: Jul- Sep | Year Harvested: 2024
This plant supports native bees, bumble bees, beetles, wasps, flies, butterflies, and moths. Monarchs love nectaring on this tall plant.
White Prairie Clover
Dalea candida
Sun: Full | Soil: Dry | Height: 1-2 ft | Bloom: May-Sep | Year Harvested: 2024
This plant supports native bees, bumble bees, beetles, wasps, flies, and butterflies. This plant is perfect to plant near borders in gardens, as they don’t get too tall.
Illinois Bundleflower
Desmanthus illinoensis
Sun: Full | Soil: Moist, Dry | Height: 1-3 ft | Bloom: May-Jul | Year Harvested: 2024
This plant supports native bees, bumble bees, wasps, flies, and butterflies. This bushy plant provides shade for smaller creatures. It is full of nutrients and high in protein, which is eaten by many wildlife.
Prairie Cinquefoil
Drymocallis arguta
Sun: Full to Partial | Soil: Moist, Dry | Height: 1-3.5 ft | Bloom: Jun-Sep | Year Harvested: 2024
This plant supports butterflies, flies, and native bees. White-tailed Deer will often munch on these blooms. it prefers woodland edges and meadows.
False Sunflower
Heliopsis helianthoides
Sun: Full | Soil: Moist, Dry | Height: 2-5 ft | Bloom: Jun-Aug | Year Harvested: 2024
This plant supports native bees, bumble bees, beetles, wasps, flies, moths, and butterflies. Monarchs love to nectar on this flower. It is a host plant for Clearwinged Moths and Ridgid Sunflower Borer Moths.
Common Evening Primrose
Oenothera biennis
Sun: Full to Partial | Soil: Moist, Dry | Height: 3-5 ft | Bloom: May -Jun | Year Harvested: 2024
This flower supports native bees, bumble bees, beetles, wasps, flies, moths, butterflies, and hummingbirds. This is a host plant for Fireweed Clearwing Moths, Nessus Sphinx, and Pearly Wood-nymph.
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Sun: Full | Soil: Wet, Dry | Height: 2-5 ft | Bloom: Jun-Jul | Year Harvested: 2024
This plant has large flowers that bumble bees love to crawl into for nectar and pollen. Wasps, flies, moths, butterflies, and hummingbirds also take advantage of the nectar resources.
Rosinweed
Silphium integrifolium
Sun: Full | Soil: Wet-Dry | Height: 2-6 ft | Bloom: Jul-Sep | Year Harvested: 2024
This flower supports native bees, bumble bees, beetles, wasps, flies, moths, and butterflies. This is a host plant for the Rosinweed Moth.
Virginia Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum virginianum
Sun: Full | Soil: Moist | Height: 1-3 ft | Bloom: Jun-Aug | Year Harvested: 2024
This flower supports native bees, bumble bees, beetles, wasps, flies, moths, and butterflies. This is a host plant for Curve-toothed Geometer Moths and Tobacco Budworm Moths.
Smooth Blue Aster
Symphyotrichum laeve
Sun: Full | Soil: Dry | Height: 3-5 ft | Bloom: Aug-Sep | Year Harvested: 2024
This flower supports native bees, bumble bees, beetles, wasps, flies, moths, butterflies, and hummingbirds. This is a host plant for Pearl Cresents, Arcigera Flower Moths, and Northern Flower Moths.
Stiff Goldenrod
Solidago rigida
Sun: Full to Partial | Soil: Dry | Height: 2-5 ft | Bloom: Aug-Sep | Year Harvested: 2024
This flower supports native bees, bumble bees, beetles, wasps, flies, moths, butterflies, and hummingbirds. In fall this plant is buzzing with activity as it is one of the few fall blooming plants.
Golden Alexander
Zizia aurea
Sun: Full to Partial | Soil: Wet – Dry | Height: 1-3 ft | Bloom: Apr-Aug | Year Harvested: 2024
This flower supports native bees, bumble bees, beetles, wasps, flies, moths, butterflies, and hummingbirds. This is a host plant for Sunflower Borers, Swallowtails, and Black Swallowtail.
Native Grasses
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
Sun: Full to Partial | Soil: Dry | Height: 6-8 ft | Bloom: May-Jun | Year Harvested: 2024
This plant is a great nesting material for bees. It is also a host plant for the Argos Skipper, Dusted Skipper, and the Cobweb Skipper.
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Sun: Full | Soil: Moist, Dry | Height: 3-8 ft | Bloom: Jul-Sep | Year Harvested: 2024
This grass supports butterflies and moths. It also provides great nesting material for our native bees. It is a host plant for the rare Pepper & Salt Skipper.
Side Oats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
Sun: Full to Partial | Soil: Dry | Height: 1-3 ft | Bloom: Jul-Sep | Year Harvested: 2024
This grass is a great nesting material for our native bees. It is also a host plant for Patagonia Eyed Silkmoths, Hualapai Buckmoths, and Dotted Skipper Butterflies.
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Sun: Full to Partial | Soil: Moist, Dry | Height: 1-3 ft | Bloom: Aug-Sep | Year Harvested: 2024
It supports butterflies and moths. It’s a great nesting material for our native bees. It is a host plant for Argos Skippers, the rare Ottoe Skipper, and the endangered Dakota Skipper.
Virginia Wildrye
Elymus virginicus
Sun: Full to Shade | Soil: Wet, Moist | Height: 2.5 ft | Bloom: Mar-Apr | Year Harvested: 2024
This grass helps provide habitat and important hiding spots for insects and wildlife. The deep roots help stabilize soil and filter pollutants from runoff.
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Sun: Full to Partial | Soil: Wet, Dry | Height: 3-6 ft | Bloom: Jul-Aug | Year Harvested: 2024
This grass provides nesting materials for our native bees and birds. It is a host plant for the Delaware Skipper, Dotted Skipper, and Leonard’s Skipper.
Non Native Plants
Clasping Coneflower
Dracopis amplexicaulis
Sun: Full | Soil: Dry | Height: 2 ft | Bloom: Jul-Aug | Year Harvested: 2021
This flower is native to the USA, but not IA. It provides nesting materials for our native bees and birds.
Missouri Primrose
Oenothera missouriensis
Sun: Full | Soil: Moist, Dry | Height: 1/2 – 1 ft | Bloom: May-Aug | Year Harvested: 2021
This plant is bushy and a great addition to your garden. While non native to Iowa, it is native to many other states in the USA. They are pollinated by moths. They can be planted in rock areas and tolerate dry, hot conditions.
Seed Mixes
Bryson Pollinator Mix
Year Harvested: 2024
This mix consists of Illinois Bundleflower, Purple Prairie Clover, Partridge Pea, Maximillion Sunflower, Purple Coneflower, White Prairie Clover, Canada Milkvetch, Prairie Coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Bee Balm, Evening Primrose, Showy Ticktrefoil, Greyheaded Coneflower, and Hoary Vervain.
Carl Curtz Pollinator Mix
Year Harvested: 2024
This mix contains Showy Ticktrefoil, White Wild Indigo, Big Bluestem, Indiangrass, Roundheaded Bushclover, Purple Prairie Clover, Little Bluestem, Prairie Dropseed, Stiff Goldenrod, Cream Gentian, Golden Alexander, Sawtooth Sunflower, Rattlesnake Master, Canada Milkvetch, Purple Coneflower, Sky Blue Aster, False Sunflower, Rough Blazing Star, Switchgrass, Rough Dropseed, Greyheaded Coneflower, and Mountain Mint.